FOREWORD The information revolution is not about technology, it is about people. This is increasingly recognised and has led to the convergence of major global development initiatives. Today, there is a strong correlation in the quest for an inclusive and equitable information society and the effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This book argues that Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) can play a decisive role in both. Drawing on current research, learning and experience from concrete projects, the authors show that ICT provide an overarching enabling platform for development processes. Because of their generic and transformative power, ICT can not only contribute to the achievement of specific development objectives in areas such as health or education, but are also key enablers of sustainable human development in a more general sense. The authors  all leading experts in their field  leave no doubt that the power of ICT can most effectively be harnessed through participation and cooperation of all stakeholders and all sectors of society  government, civil society and the private sector. Only by combining their particular competencies and resources can the massive roll-out of innovative ICT-based services and the scale-up of development interventions be achieved which are necessary to make a lasting developmental impact.

Since its foundation in 1997, the Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) has been committed to building cross-sectoral partnerships among all stakeholders. Its major goal is to foster effective, people-centred and innovative use of ICT for development (ICT4D) and facilitate mobilisation of investments at local, national and global levels. Today, with some 90 institutional members from over 40 countries, GKP is the leading international multistakeholder network committed to harnessing and unleashing the potential of ICT for sustainable and equitable development.

Access, Empowerment & Governance - Creating a World of Equal Opportunities with ICT Edited by Rinalia Abdul Rahim, Gabriele Siegenthaler Muinde and Daniele Waldburger Download this publication (2.8 MB)

With this book GKP further delivers on its promise to make available to a wider audience the considerable knowledge, insight and expertise of its members. Advancing public debate on ICT4D, influencing policy and regulatory frameworks and promoting the exchange of knowledge among all stakeholders has been a strategic concern for several years. For example, in 2001 the GKP Recommendations on Issues of Bridging the Digital Divide were developed specifically for the G8 Digital Opportunities Task Force. Since then there has been a series of publications on various important ICT4D issues such as Internet Governance or ICT for Poverty Reduction. The most recent book published in 2004 (ICT4D  Connecting People for a Better World) documents the highly successful ICT4D Platform at the World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva 2003. (For an overview of GKP publications see http://www.globalknowledge.org/publications)

As part of its strategy, GKP also acts as the convener of multi-stakeholder activities for sharing knowledge and building partnerships at the local, regional and international levels. In addition to raising awareness among decision makers about the enormous potential of ICT4D, events such as the vibrant ICT4D Platform at WSIS Geneva, the GKP Forum at WSIS Tunis, the Global Knowledge Conferences and the GKP International Forums provide platforms for members and partners to share experiences, develop collaborative programmes and to keep abreast of important trends and innovations.

Walter Fust Director-General Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Chair of the Executive Committee, Global Knowledge Partnership GKP)

Rinalia Abdul Rahim Executive Director Global Knowledge Partnership GKP)

This book was launched during the GKP Evening on "Celebrating Multi-stakeholder Partnerships (MSPs)" 15-Nov-2005, at the ICT4all Exhibition held in conjunction with the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 2005, Tunis.

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